2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

The parent company of Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, has posted a record net profit of $2.5 billion for the second quarter of the year, smashing most estimates and increasing by almost 30 percent on the same period a year ago.

The astounding results were mostly on the back of increased demand for Mercedes-Benz vehicles, with the luxury brand managing to increase its sales to 357,600 units in the quarter, a rise on last year’s already record levels of 342,500 units.

Top earners for Mercedes-Benz included the facelifted C-Class range as well as the S-Class flagship sedan and new SLK roadster. Demand was particularly strong in China, where Mercedes is failing to keep up with supply.

Daimler also made the announcement that the next-generation B-Class, the first of Mercedes’ new small car family, will launch in November and should help prop up the firm's numbers even further.

In total, Daimler’s revenue increased by 5 percent to $38 billion for the quarter, with the auto giant now on track for yearly revenues in excess of $145 billion.

Not surprisingly, Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche was overly positive, stating: “With our excellent first half of the year, we are fully on schedule to turn 2011 into one of the most successful years in our long corporate history. We now assume that Group earnings will develop more positively than we previously expected and will very significantly exceed the level of 2010.”

Unfortunately, no figures for the struggling Maybach brand have been released, nor has a decision on its future been made.